Finding Your Place in the Application Race
Before you take the time and expense to apply to a school, it pays to gauge your chances of getting in.
To get a sense of how competitive you may be, look at the typical applicant pool at schools that interest you and consider how you compare. Pay attention to grade point average, Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) scores, education, work experience, and accomplishments. You may need to address one or more of these areas in your application.
Look at Historical Data
There’s no way to tell for sure how you’ll stack up against the current applicant pool, but the historical data can give you an idea how you compare with previous applicant pools.
Be careful when looking at the published student profiles. If a school accepts 33% of its applicants, it doesn’t mean you have a one-in-three chance of getting in. Your credentials may be so strong that your chances are considerably higher. Or, they may be so weak that you are unlikely to be admitted.
Remember That No One Is “Average”
When comparing yourself with the "average" MBA applicant, keep in mind that the term does not describe any one specific person. Rather, it illustrates a collection of traits across a broad spectrum.
You may find there are places where you’re weaker than average, but you may be able to compensate if you are better than average in one or more other areas. If so, emphasize those skills in your applications.
